Fiber gathering machine



March 26, 1935.v R. w. HENDERSON FIBER GATE BRING MACHINE Filed July 26, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l m w M,

5 ii1il\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ March 26, 1935. R. w. HENDERSON 1,995,510

FIBER GATHERING MACHINE Filed July 26, 1932 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwuemtoz Eatentecl Mar. 26, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a fiber gathering machine.

An object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character described specially designed for use in gathering lint cotton or other similar fiber from the plant.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character described which is of such construction that it may be readily used by cotton pickers for receiving and collecting the cotton as the same is gathered from the stalks in the rows and for collecting and depositing the cotton as gathered in a suitable receptacle provided for the purpose.

With the above and other objects in view the invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the machine partly in section, taken on the line l1 of Figure 2, and

Figure 2 shows a fragmentary front elevation.

In the drawings the numeral 1 designates a tubular manifold which is reduced or tapered each way from the mid-portion thereof and which is supported on the brackets 2, 2 which are secured to and extend forwardly from the front upright standards 3, 3. These standards aresupported by the front end of the tractor 4 and are arranged on opposite sides of the hood of the tractor. Upstanding from the rear end of the tractor are the rear standards 5, 5 and supported by' the front and rear standards are the side members as 6, 6. Upstandingfrom the side members 6 are the legs as '7 which support the blow fan 8 and Whose upper ends have suitable bearings to receive the fan shaft 9. Fixed on this shaft is a pulley 10 which is aligned with a similar pulley 11 fixed on the take off shaft 12 which is driven from the tractor and a suitable belt 13 operates over these aligned pulleys and transmits rotation from the latter to the former whereby the fan may be driven. There is a suitable suction pipe 14 leading from the mid-portion 'of the manifold and which enters the casing of the fan 8 and leading out from this casing there is a discharge pipe 15 which enters the body 16 of a suitable trailer vehicle 1'7. This body 16 is enclosed by wire mesh or other foraminated material.

The manifold 1 has the end connections 18 and also the connections 19 spaced apart therealong and attached to each connection 18, 19 there is a suitable flexible suction hose 20. The outer, or free, end of each hose 20 has a flared suction nozzle 21'. x I

The standards 3, 3 extend above the manifold 1 and at their upper ends have the forwardly extended brackets 22 and there is a'supporting guy- 7 wire 23 across the brackets 22 whose ends are attachedto the respective ends of the manifold 1 and form additional supporting means therefor. In use the machine will be driven along the rows of cotton as cotton is gathered from the individual rows by the cotton picker. Each nozzle 21' has an eye 24 toreceive a strap 25 whereby the nozzle may be supported from the belt 26 of the picker. As the fiber is picked from the plant it may be deposited in thenozzle 21 and will be carried by suction through the corresponding hose 20 into the manifold and will pass thence through the pipe 14, the fan casing and the pipe 15 into the body 16 and will be deposited therein, the air passing freely out through the foraminated walls of said body. When a particular hose 20 is not being used its eye 24 may be engaged over the corresponding hook 27 which is suspended from the supporting rod 28 at the front side of the manifold 1.

The drawings and description disclose what is now considered to be a preferred form of the invention by way'of illustration only, while the broad principle of the invention will be defined by the appended claim.

What I claim is: g

A fiber gathering machine comprising a transporting vehicle, a supporting framework thereon, standards upstanding from the forward end of the vehicle and spaced apart, supporting brackets extending forwardly from said standards and having supporting seats therein, forwardly extending brackets at the upper ends of the standards, a tubular manifold which istapered each way from its mid-portion and which rests in said seats and is bodily removable therefrom, flexible hose connected into said manifold at spaced intervals from each end thereof, a flared nozzle at the free end of each hose, a conveyor pipe connected into the mid-portion of the manifold and having a suction generator therein, means for driving said generator, a guy wire attached' to each end of the manifold and supported by said upper brackets.

ROBERT W. HENDERSON. 

